COURSE
DESCRIPTION: This course provides an overview of: 1) the policy process, and
2) substantive public policies. For the first several weeks we will examine
the stages of policy making - agenda setting, decision making and formulation,
implementation and evaluation - and review the roles played by governmental
and non-governmental actors in each of these stages. We will learn also that
not only are there different types of public policy - regulatory, distributive,
redistributive, and constitutive - but that each type of policy engenders different
political conflicts and controversies and political coalitions contesting the
policies and issues at stake. The remaining weeks, constituting the bulk of
the course, will be devoted to specific policy areas, where we can apply our
knowledge of the policy process and politics to understand how and why we have
the policies we do and the debates that surround them. Given its prominent role
in recent public debate, we will pay special attention to immigration policy
this semester.

ATTENDANCE
POLICY: Class attendance is required. See general university regulations. Makeup
exams are available only for verified and excused absences, and are given at
the instructor's convenience.

EXAMS:
There will be four exams, counting equally toward the final grade. The format
of the exams will be partly objective — that is, matching/true-false questions,
with — mostly —short identifications or essay. I reserve the
right to change the format of the tests during the semester if I deem it necessary.
Dates of exams listed in the syllabus are tentative, final dates will be announced
in class.

GRADING
PLAN: Grades are based on exams (80%) and out-of-class article assignments (20%).
This means the four exams will be averaged and weighted 80%, while the out-of-class
assignments together will be weighted 20% (I have yet to determine the calculation
of article assignments). As noted, if it becomes necessary, daily quizzes can
be incorporated into the grading scheme as well. For all assignments and exams
the normal grading scale is used: 90 and above, A; 80-89, B; 70-79, C; 60-69,
D; 59 and below, F.

Course
Schedule: Topics

Reading

M

August
21

Introduction
and Overview

W

August
23

The
Impact of Public Policy

Davis,
Chapter 1

F

August
25

Models
of the Political System

Davis,
Chapter 2

M

August
28

Conceptualizing
the Policy Process

Davis,
Chapter 3

W

August
30

TBA

TBA

F

September
1

TBA

TBA

M

September
4

NO
CLASS – Labor Day

W

September
6

Actors
in the Policy Process

Davis,
Chapter 4

F

September
8

Types
of Public Policy

Davis,
Chapter 5

M

September
11

Policy
Making and Institutions

Davis,
Chapter 6

W

September
13

Agenda
Setting and Policy Formation

Davis,
Chapter 7

F

September
15

Policy
Implementation

Davis,
Chapter 8

M

September
18

Policy
Evaluation

Davis,
Chapter 9

W

September
20

Revenue,
Spending and Deficits

Davis,
Chapter 10

F

September
22

Exam
I

M

September
25

Environmental
Policy

Controversies
pp. 113-143

W

September
27

Energy
Policy

Controversies
pp. 398-427

F

September
29

Growth
Management

Controversies
pp. 8-27

M

October
2

Gun
Control

Controversies
pp. 369-395

W

October
4

Drug
Policy

Controversies
pp. 316-366

F

October
6

Guns
& Drugs

News
articles due/Discussion

M

October
9

Abortion

Controversies
pp.207-222

W

October
11

Campaign
Finance

Controversies
pp. 168-204

F

October
13

Abortion/Campaign
Finance

News
articles due/Discussion

M

October
16

Exam
II

W

October
18

Entitlements

Controversies
pp.57-78

F

October
20

Entitlements

Controversies
pp.78-84

M

October
23

Welfare

Controversies
pp. 225-239

W

October
25

Welfare

Controversies
pp. 239-244

F

October
27

Welfare

News
articles due/Discussion

M

October
30

Health

Controversies
pp. 248-272

W

November
1

Health

Controversies
pp. 273-289

F

November
3

Health

News
articles due/Discussion

M

November
6

Education

Controversies
pp. 30-40

W

November
8

Education

Controversies
pp. 41-55

F

November
10

Exam
III

M

November
13

Immigration

Controversies
pp.146-165

W

November
15

Immigration

Handout
1

F

November
17

Immigration

Handout
2

M

November
20

Immigration

News
articles due/Discussion

W

November
22

NO
CLASS

F

November
24

NO
CLASS

M

November
27

Affirmative
Action

Controversies
pp. 292-306

W

November
29

Affirmative
Action

Controversies
pp. 307-312

F

December
1

Affirmative
Action

Handout
3

M

December
4

Media
Policy

Handout
4

W

December
6

LAST
CLASS DAY – Media Policy

Handout
5

December
11-14

Finals
– Check finals schedule for date and time of exam for this class.

Supplemental
Handout List: All handouts are available on hardcopy and electronic reserve
at the library. Some are also available online at www.jstor.org
You must have adobe acrobat on your machine to view, download, and/or print
jstor articles, but adobe is available to download for free at www.adobe.com
, and is already on the library and computer lab machines.

ASSIGNMENTS:
First, students are required to complete their daily readings prior to class.
While overnight comprehension is not expected, the combination of lectures and
reading enhances the learning process. It also allows me the opportunity to
ask questions and generate class discussion. Second, assignments come in a variety
of formats in the effort to cater to all the individual learning styles and
strengths in the classroom. Though there is variation in the types of exams
and assignments given, writing assignments are frequent as they are most suitable
for assessing critical thinking about the concepts being learned. Finally, I
require interactive discussion of the readings and lecture material in class.
In the class discussions, my role is to facilitate debate and provide input
and clarification when it is needed. Students are encouraged to offer arguments
and to challenge arguments offered in class. The exchange of perspectives exposes
students to a diversity of viewpoints, allows them the opportunity to evaluate
the strengths and weaknesses of the various arguments offered, and gives them
a chance to hone their public speaking skills and their ability to advance and
defend their own assertions. If during the semester class participation is not
at a level I think is acceptable, I reserve the right to incorporate daily quizzes
over the reading material.

ACADEMIC
HONESTY: All students are expected to engage in all academic pursuits
in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete
honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom.
Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be
subject to disciplinary action. The University and its official representatives
may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form
of dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating on an examination or other
academic work which is to be submitted, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse
of resource materials. Violation of this policy will result in a grade of 0
on an exam where there is cheating (for example, looking over at another student's
exam during the exam, looking at any notes or cribs during the exam, etc.).

CLASSROOM
RULES OF CONDUCT: Students will refrain from behavior in the classroom that
intentionally or unintentionally disrupts the learning process and, thus, impedes
the mission of the university. Cellular telephones and pagers must be turned
off before the class begins. Students are prohibited from eating in class, using
tobacco products, making offensive remarks, talking at inappropriate times,
wearing inappropriate clothing, or engaging in any other form of distraction.
Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result in a directive to leave
class. Students who are especially disruptive also may be reported to the Dean
of Students for disciplinary action in accordance with university policy.

VISITORS IN THE CLASSROOM: Unannounced visitors to class must present a current,
official SHSU identification card to be permitted in the classroom. They must
not present a disruption to the class by their attendance. If the visitor is
not a registered student, it is at the instructor's discretion whether or not
the visitor will be allowed to remain in the classroom.

STUDY
TIPS: Students are strongly advised to take class notes. It also helps to keep
up with the reading as we are addressing each topic rather than leave it until
the night before the exam. Questions are always encouraged, either in class
or out of class. Another tip is to find classmates to study with, comparing
notes, etc.

INSTRUCTOR EVALUATIONS: Students will be asked to complete a course/instructor
evaluation toward the end of the semester.

STUDENTS
WITH DISABILITIES: will be accommodated in any way possible. Please let the
instructor know early on in the semester.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: any student who needs to miss a class for the observance
of a religious holiday will be accommodated in any way possible. Please let
the instructor know early on in the semester.

Syllabus
is subject to change if circumstances so dictate. This would happen only if,
for example, we needed to shift material between exams for student convenience.